The Volkswagen Golf has been awarded ‘Used Car Hero’ at the 2019 Autocar Awards, in recognition of its numerous talents – namely the value it represents to customers on the used car market, from its flexibility and quality to its reliability.

The accolade comes after a successful week, where the Golf also collected the award for ‘Best Car for New Drivers’ at the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2019, it has now picked up the title Used Car Hero from Autocar.

The publication applauded the Golf’s versatile line-up, ranging from high-performance champions like the R and GTI models, to the value-packed Golf Match, the eco credentials of the e-Golf and the real-world usability of the diesel and petrol-engined variants on offer. The Golf’s value for money on the used market was of particular note to Autocar.

Neither the Golf, nor Volkswagen itself, are strangers to success at the Autocar Awards. In 2017 the Golf GTI was crowned ‘Readers’ Champion’ in a huge online poll of Autocar readers, while Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Group and Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand, was honoured with the respected ‘Editor’s Award’ at the 2018 event.

Speaking of the Golf’s win, Autocar Editor Mark Tisshaw said: “The Volkswagen Golf has been crowned the 2019 Autocar Used Car Hero. We’ve picked out the nearly-new seventh generation version, which is available in many forms, from the electric e-Golf to the hot R version. Whichever version you choose, the used Golf blends affordability, versatility and reliability. 

“The Used Car Hero award, which we run with our used car guru James Ruppert, this year celebrates nearly new cars, and is awarded to a brilliant used car that's still on sale as a new one. The current Golf was the outstanding choice for the win this year, given there is next to no drop off in appeal for all the reasons you'd buy a new one still apply when buying used.“

Andrew Savvas, Volkswagen UK Managing Director collected the award yesterday evening, held at the Silverstone Wing in Northamptonshire. Barny Francis, National Used Car Manager at Volkswagen UK, who also attended the awards, said: “Over the last 45 years the Volkswagen Golf has built a loyal following. It has long been a favourite of car buyers in the UK, and consistently ranks very highly as one of the UK’s best-selling new cars.

“Buyers have even more choice on the used market with the Golf, which is also one of the UK’s most searched for used cars. From economical diesels to high performance GTI and R models, with electrified powertrains like the all-electric e-Golf in-between, the Golf is truly the People’s Car, and so we are thrilled that Autocar has recognised its position with the Used Car Hero award.”

“With the Das WeltAuto programme offering our customers great benefits and peace of mind in making their used purchase, we’re prouder than ever of the Golf and our used car offering.”

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The curtain has been raised on “New Volkswagen“: On the evening before the first press day of the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the Volkswagen brand has unveiled its new logo and its new brand design. This world premiere marks the start of a new era for Volkswagen, accompanied by the presentation of the full-electric ID.301 at the same time. Volkswagen’s future is electric, fully connected and has a neutral carbon balance. With its new brand design, VW has created a uniform global 360° brand experience which is more modern and more authentic. The new Volkswagen logo with its flat two-dimensional design is clearer and has been reduced to its essential elements. The brand design and the logo aim for high flexibility and are intended for digital applications. The realignment of Volkswagen’s brand design is one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns. The changeover to the new brand design is due to be completed by mid-2020.

“The new brand design marks the start of the new era for Volkswagen,” says Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales. “By formulating new content and with new products, the brand is undergoing a fundamental transformation towards a future with a neutral emission balance for everyone. Now is the right time to make the new attitude of our brand visible to the outside world.”

“New Volkswagen” can be seen and experienced in the design of the vehicles, in customer contacts and in the brand presentation as a whole. The new brand design applies both to Volkswagen Passenger Cars and to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Volkswagen’s Chief Designer Klaus Bischoff played a key role in the development of the new corporate identity. “In the new brand design, we have created an authentic communications platform for the emotional presentation of e-mobility. We are showing the Volkswagen of the future under the motto of “digital first” and “no filter”.

Jochen Sengpiehl, Chief Marketing Officer of Volkswagen, explains: “We have created a new holistic global brand experience on all channels and across all touch points. As a general principle, the aim in future will not be to show a perfect advertising world. In our presentation, we want to become more human and more lively, to adopt the customer’s perspective to a greater extent and to tell authentic stories.”

The strategic foundations for the new brand design were not laid by external agencies but by a joint team of Volkswagen Design and Marketing. The design was implemented with the full integration of all departments of the company in the record time of nine months using a powerhouse concept developed by Volkswagen especially for this purpose.A total of 19 internal teams and 17 external agencies were involved in the project.

The international roll-out of the new brand design will begin at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show. The starting signal will be given when the new logo starts to shine out from the high-rise building at company headquarters in Wolfsburg at the same time as the Volkswagen Group evening. The global changeover is to be implemented using a cost-optimized, resource-conserving approach. Initially, the brand’s locations and dealers in Europe will be changed over, followed by China in October. The changeover will then be implemented step-by-step in North and South America as well as the rest of the world from the beginning of 2020. The roll-out is to be completed by the middle of next year. Volkswagen’s rebranding is one of the largest projects of this type in the industry worldwide. All in all, 171 markets in 154 countries are concerned. At the 10,000 facilities of dealers and service partners throughout the world, about 70,000 logos will be replaced.

The symbol and trademark will be the new logo. This will be more modern, clearer and simpler. The logo will be reduced to its essential elements and presented with a new design that is flat and two-dimensional. It will allow more flexible use and will be outstandingly recognizable in digital media. To date, the logo has been blue and white. A new blue tone is now being added, allowing additional color variants. As the digital application with simple, user-friendly interfaces has become extremely important, the logo will be positioned flexibly with the new “moving frame” in the future. 

Instead of a brand claim, Volkswagen will have a sound logo for the first time. This will make also make the Volkswagen brand distinctive in acoustic terms, both in the vehicle and in communications.

The new visual language of the brand will be very different from that presented by Volkswagen to date – it will be bolder and more colorful. The focus will be on people. Volkswagen will no longer concentrate on perfectionism in vehicle photography. In future, the main objective will be to present realistic situations that customers can identify with.

As in the case of the vehicle, light will also play a key role in communications. Light is the new chromium. In future, the logo will be illuminated, on the vehicle, at the brand locations and at the dealerships.

At the dealerships too, the logo, the moving frame and light will play a key role, with a view to creating a pleasant atmosphere. In general, the cost to dealers will be kept as low as possible. In architectural terms, there will be no change to the interior of the dealerships. 

For several decades, Volkswagen has used a male voice to present its vehicles and for advertising purposes. The brand is now to become female. On almost all markets, a woman with a warm, pleasant and confident voice will speak for Volkswagen.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen enhances the range of special equipment for the T-Roc: the popular, compact SUV is now available to order with a particularly powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine generating 140 kW / 190 PS. Two new design packages are also available for the T-Roc: the “Black Style” equipment package lends the T-Roc more elegance, thanks to many black, contrasting elements; the optional “beats” package includes the first-class “beats” sound system and many highlights in red – on the inside and outside of the vehicle.

T-Roc with new, powerful diesel engine

The T-Roc with the optional Sport equipment line is now available with a new engine variant. The diesel engine generates 140 kW / 190 PS and boasts a torque of 400 Nm from a 2.0-litre TDI. The output is distributed to all four wheels of the T-Roc using 4MOTION all-wheel drive and the engine has been paired with a 7-speed DSG. In Germany, the starting price of the T-Roc 2.0 TDI with 140 kW / 190 PS is €35,105.

Impressive contrast guaranteed: “Black Style” design package

The “Black Style” design package includes many different black elements, such as exterior mirror housings, side trims, the bottom radiator trim strip as well as black 18-inch “Grange Hill” alloy wheels. A further special characteristic is the new foil on the C-pillar with a grey and black graphic pattern.

The interior also carries through the aesthetics of the “Black Style” design package: the black headliner and black glossy dash pad establish a contrast to the white background lighting. In Germany, the design package for the T-Roc with optional Sport equipment line is available from €1,235 and the optional Style equipment line can be added starting from €1,575.

As an option, the roof can also be configured in black. Black, 19-inch Suzuka alloy wheels are also available to guarantee even more individual character. 

New “beats” package with red highlights – on the inside and outside

The “beats” sound system lies at the core of the new, optional “beats” package featuring six loudspeakers, digital 8-channel amplifier, subwoofer and a total output of 300 watts. These components have been perfectly coordinated and bring impressive sound to the T-Roc. The Composition Media radio and App-Connect are also along for the ride.

Other “beats” package features include sills panel trims with “beats” lettering, a red dash pad and red background lighting, representing further highlights on the inside of the vehicle. The exterior is dominated by red exterior mirror housings and C-pillars with a unique foil. 17-inch Mayfield alloy wheels – featuring a red edge around the Volkswagen badge – finish off the overall appearance. In Germany, the “beats” package for the T-Roc will be available at a surcharge of €720 for the optional Style equipment line and €850 for the Sport equipment line.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Volkswagen Group Components presents a holistic concept with its partner eClassics for the subsequent electrification of the historic Volkswagen Beetle. The conversion exclusively uses new parts they have mutually agreed on from the series production of Volkswagen Group Components. The electric drive, the 1-speed gearbox and the battery system are based on the new VW e-up!1. The conversion of the historic Beetle is being carried out by the specialist company eClassics. Its premiere is being celebrated with a near-production version of the e-Beetle at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany.

“The electrified Beetle combines the charm of our classic car with the mobility of the future. Innovative e-components from Volkswagen Group Components are under the bonnet – we work with them to electrify historically important vehicles, in what is an emotional process,” explains Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components. “We are also providing Beetle owners with a professional conversion solution, using production parts of the highest quality.”

New VW e-up! as technical basis

The technical basis for the conversion is provided by tested production parts from Volkswagen’s new e-up! These are manufactured at Volkswagen Group Components production sites. As a result, the electric engine and the 1-speed gearbox are produced in Kassel, while the battery system components are supplied from Brunswick.

The components from Kassel and Brunswick work together in the e-Beetle as an electric drive that reaches performance peaks of 60°kW /82°PS. The battery system is built into the underbody and consists of up to 14 modules, each with a capacity of 2.6 kWh. The lithium-ion battery modules cumulatively deliver energy of up to 36.8 kWh. The higher performance and the increased weight due to the extent of electrification require the adaptation and reinforcement of the chassis and the brakes. Despite the new total weight of 1,280 kg, the e-Beetle accelerates to 50 km/h in just under four seconds and to 80 km in just over eight seconds. The range of the e-Beetle, which reaches top speeds of up to 150 km/h, is 200 km – a comfortable distance for a relaxing day out in an electrified classic car. In the event that the e-Beetle runs out of electricity during the trip, the built-in series-produced components allow for fast charging via a combined charging system. As a result, the e-Beetle can store enough energy for a journey of over 150 km after charging for around an hour.

Concept can be transferred to other historic vehicles

Based on this concept, the subsequent electrification of other historic vehicles will also be possible. Schmall says, “We are already working together to prepare the platform for the Bus. An e-Porsche 356 could also be pursued in the future.” The use of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) is also being considered. This creates additional opportunities regarding performance and range.

Conversion carried out by specialist partner company

While Volkswagen Group Components supplies the production parts for the electric drive and the battery system, the actual conversion of the Beetle is carried out by the partner company eClassics in Renningen, near Stuttgart. A lot of expertise has been poured into producing the electrified Beetle. Volkswagen Group Components has made use of the considerable experience of its specialist employees and advised eClassics during the process. “We are proud that we and Volkswagen Group Components could get the show on the road with this project. We are also looking forward to seeing many e-Beetles on the street soon,” add the two Managing Directors of eClassics GmbH & Co KG, Dennis Murschel and Martin Acevedo.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com